The new look of makeup

Runway models take a last walk on the runway together after showing off the Quynh Paris clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles.ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER

Manna Kadar, creator of Manna Cosmetics in Laguna Niguel, isn't just a beauty mogul in the making but also a beacon of calm amid the whirly-swirly chaos that is backstage at L.A. Fashion Week. This is no small feat. Manna Cosmetics isn't responsible for doing the makeup for just one or two runway shows, but as the official makeup sponsor of this year's Style Fashion Week LA, Kadar's young company is responsible for all of them.

The red-carpeted entryway leading up to the Vibiana building, the historic former cathedral where Style Fashion Week LA is being held, is abuzz with press, flashing lights, clipboard-holding guest-list keepers and fashion-industry aficionados waiting in line to get in.

Inside, a swarm of photographers several rows deep are huddled expectantly at the end of the runway, set up to shoot the shows and pounce on every pouty-lipped glance models throw to the cameras. Kadar is out on the patio at the Manna Cosmetics booth. Throughout the evening, she's seemingly simultaneously outside promoting her brand and backstage supervising, as the several different beauty looks that she's collaborated on with the evening's multiple fashion designers are applied on the models.

It's no surprise that the woman who at 16 years old purchased a Planet Beauty, expanded it into several more stores, became a corporate banker and is now promoting an entire eponymous makeup line understands that what this night is really about, glamour aside, is business. "I want to get my brand out there sooner rather than later," Kadar says later in the evening. "Get it in the hands of writers, editors and tastemakers. LA Fashion Week is a way to do that."

The main room fills up and swells with activity. The crowd has a decidedly L.A. feel mixed with a bit of a three-ring circus: There are women in long, flowing dresses, hipster men wearing black square eyeglasses, and lots of tattoos and cleavage.

Mixed in are a burly guy with surprisingly angular fashion-forward sideburns; a little-girl model wearing a dress adorned with giant faux cupcakes; a bald woman wearing a hat that looks like it's made out of giant spider legs affixed to a shining, gold sundial on the back of her shaved head; and a petite, curvy brunette wearing camouflage mini-shorts, a matching short-sleeve camouflage jacket, a World War II-era Army Girl hat like the Andrews Sisters might have worn while singing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," super-high heels and lots of dark lip gloss.

Make your way through all of that to backstage, where Kadar's makeup artists are beautifying the models, and despite elbow-to-elbow crowdedness as people file through the space, the room is surprisingly mellow. Kadar sets the tone. Dressed in a beige, crystal-embellished short dress, hair coiffed in a stylish up-do, Kadar is poised, decidedly attractive and feminine but not overly trendy. She smiles warmly, takes her time and looks you in the eyes as she speaks, as if confident that the evening will go as planned. "I guess you can tell that I'm very organized," she says, smiling.

Multiculturalism is key to Manna Cosmetics, and the models "are a mix of Asian American, African American, Europe American, Middle Eastern American, Hispanic American and more. All of this is part of L.A.," says Kadar, who is part Chinese, French and Lebanese. She says her brand isn't tied to just a California-girl look. "Women across the globe can enjoy wearing my products," she says.

Related Links

Runway models take a last walk on the runway together after showing off the Quynh Paris clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion model Nicole Nieto gets makeup applied in preparation for her runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A runway model wears an outfit from the Ash haute couture clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A runway model wears an outfit from the Ash haute couture clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A runway model wears an outfit from the Quynh Paris clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Former Newport Beach resident Alexis Harmon waits with other fashion models for her turn to take a practice walk on the runway before her actual performances during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A runway model wears an outfit from the Ash haute couture clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A runway model wears an outfit from the Quynh Paris clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A fashion model gets makeup applied in preparation for her runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion model Thekla Gottschalk gets makeup applied in preparation for her runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Makeup artists prepare fashion models for their runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion models stand together awaiting practice walks on the runway before their actual performances during L.A. Fashion Week. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion models stand together awaiting practice walks on the runway before their actual performances during L.A. Fashion Week. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Manna Kadar, left, is interviewed by blush.com's Thu do in front of her cosmetics booth during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion models Alexa Bondar of the Ukraine smiles after beauticians have finished doing her hair before her runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
A runway model wears an outfit from the Quynh Paris clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Runway models take on the last walk on the runway together after showing off the Pia Gladys Perey clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion model Brianna Olenslager gets her makeup touched up by Manna Kadar in preparation for her runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion models Shawna Johnson of Canada, left, and Laura Novakova of Slovakia have fun during some down time during the long process of having their hair and makeup applied, being fitted for wardrobe, and taking practice walks in preparation for their runway performances during L.A. Fashion Week. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion models Sara Lucassen of Holland, left, and Thekla Gottschalk of Germany have fun during some down time during the long process of having their hair and makeup applied, being fitted for wardrobe, and taking practice walks in preparation for their runway performances during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Runway models take the last walk on the runway together after showing off the Ash haute couture clothing line during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion model Nicole Nieto gets makeup applied in preparation for her runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fashion models Drew Garrett, left, and Anna Hagood share their music as makeup applied in preparation for their runway performance during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. The makeup is by Manna Kadar Cosmetics who is a resident of Laguna Niguel. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Manna Kadar has a booth displaying her cosmetic line as well as where she gives makeup demonstrations during L.A. Fashion Week at the Vibiana building in downtown Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.